There are now four suspected cases in the abuse scandal at a public kindergarten in Vienna. “We have received another report,” said the spokeswoman for the Public Prosecution Service in Vienna, Nina Bussek. There is a strong suspicion of a teacher who might have committed the crimes. The lack of information to the parents was sharply criticized – a child was allegedly abused 13 months ago. Meanwhile, the commission set up by the city met for the first time.
At the beginning of the week, it was revealed that a teacher allegedly abused a child in a municipal kindergarten 13 months ago. Then two more possible cases followed and now the next one, the prosecutor’s office confirms at the request of the APA. After the first suspicious case became known – the parents sought a meeting with the management of the kindergarten – the public prosecutor was appointed and the man was transferred to the bureau. However, the parents of the other children on the site have not been given any information for the time being, this has only happened recently.
Parents have not been informed for months
This led to sharp criticism of MA 10, which is responsible for kindergartens. On the one hand, it concerns the fact that the parents have only now, so many months later, been informed of the suspicion of abuse, on the other hand, parents now apparently feel left alone with the situation. Cover up allegations dismissede Head of MA 10, Daniela Cochlar, back. Thursday evening there was a parents’ evening for the families of the affected location, without an audience.
Further reports on order
According to prosecutor Bussek, four cases are now being assessed by the authority. It concerns the allegation of serious sexual abuse of minors or sexual abuse of minors. In the case, which is already a year old, an expert report has been commissioned, the results of which have now been received. Bussek gave no information about the content. In the three cases that are only just known, expert advice still needs to be sought. “The expert has already been appointed to prepare an expert opinion on all three cases.”
Commission results scheduled for early July
In addition, a specially appointed committee on behalf of the City of Vienna is investigating the allegations and proceedings surrounding the case. The committee met for the first time on Wednesday afternoon for a longer session. “We have defined the central question and stated that we will monitor the process of the suspected case to this day,” the city’s child and youth attorney Ercan Nik Nafs of the APA reported. The intention is to present a report with the results in early July.
The board consists of three persons. This is a representative of the Children’s and Youth Ombudsman, the Möwe Child Protection Center and the Vienna Child and Youth Care. Nik Nafs assured the independence of the committee. Lawyer Johannes Bügler had recently expressed doubts about this. He represents five pairs of parents whose children would be cared for in the institution concerned. He said he would sue the city.
Mandatory child protection standards requested
On Thursday, the Austrian Child Protection Centers and the Working Group for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation (ECPAT Austria) also spoke. In a broadcast, they called for mandatory child protection standards. Such concepts would, for example, increase safety, enable a clearly regulated procedure in the event of suspicions and give the employees of an organization certainty in their actions.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
